SJIF IMPACT FACTOR (2015): 5.42 CRDEEP Journals International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences S. Manjunath et.al., Vol. 5 No. 2 ISSN: 2277-1921 International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. Vol. 5 No. 2. 2016. Pp. 19-22 ©Copyright by CRDEEP Journals. All Rights Reserved.
Full Length Research Paper Diversity and distribution of Aquatic Macrophytes in Gudavi Wetland, Sorab Taluk, Karnataka, India
S. Manjunath *, J.Narayana* and B.R.Kiran** *Department of P.G. Studies and Research in Environmental Science, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta- 577 451, Karnataka, India. **Research & Teaching Assistant in Environmental Science, DDE, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta- 577 451, Karnataka, India.
Article history Abstract Received: 29-02-2016 Among aquatic macrophytes, a total of 16 species belonging to 15 genera and 12 Revised: 10-03-2016 families were recorded from Gudavi pond, Karnataka during January to December Accepted: 10-04-2016 2015. Free floating macrophytes were regarded as pollution tolerant species and be used as a biological indicator for eutrophication. It indicates that aquatic macrophyte Corresponding Author: species are specific to the environmental quality. The present findings revealed that the surface quality of the pond is productive. It indicates that, aquatic macrophytes Manjunath S. species are specific to the environmental quality and can be used as agent in Department of P.G. Studies and bioremediation. Research in Environmental Science, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta- Key words: Aquatic macrophytes, Gudavi pond, Environmental indicators 577 451, Karnataka, India Introduction Macrophytes are important component and play a major role in primary productivity of the aquatic ecosystem. Aquatic macrophytes used nutrient and thus influences water quality. It also controls water quality by exuding various organic and mineral components. Aquatic communities reflect anthropogenic influence and are very useful to detect and assess human impacts (Solak et al., 2012). Macrophytes are considered as important component of the aquatic ecosystem not only as food source for aquatic invertebrates, but also act as an efficient accumulator of heavy metals (Chung and Jeng, 1974; Ayodhya et. al., 2013).
The aim of the present study was to know the diversity and distribution of aquatic macrophytes and to determine the water quality of Gudavi pond from Soraba taluk of Karnataka, India.
Materials and Methods Study Area The Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is located in Soraba Taluk of Shimoga District in the state of Karnataka and is one of the most picturesque and well-known bird sanctuaries of India. It is situated 13 Km away from Soraba town and about 0.50 Km from Gudavi village. The Gudavi Bird Sanctuary was initially notified on 10.07.1989 and subsequently it took its birth as an independent Bird Sanctuary upon final notification on 04.09.2000. The total notified geographical area of the Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is 73.68 ha, of which the sanctuary possesses the water spread area of about 33 ha and is surrounded by moist deciduous forest, interspersed with grassy 26’ 25’ 59 ” to 14patches. Gudavi bird sanctuary lies between North Latitude 14 1’ 28”. In this sanctuary, there are two 6’ 43” to 7541” and East Longitude 75 ponds separated by an earthen bund, which are called as Vaddakere and Gudavi ponds. The catchment area for this sanctuary is mainly agriculture land and other wooded areas. The water from the main catchment area is collected in Vaddakere, from which its overflow goes to Gudavi pond; the excess water from there is used for irrigation at downstream crop lands (http://aranya.gov.in/downloads/GudviWLS_MgmtPlan.pdf).
Collection and Identification of aquatic macrophytes Field trips were made once in a month covering entire the pond area with a view to find out the aquatic macrophytes species and their ecological features. In the present study monthly survey was done by quadrate method was employed by the methods of Raunkaier, (1934) and Stromberg, (1993) for collecting aquatic macrophytes from January- December 2015 at the selected sampling sites I( Near
Online version available at: www.crdeep.com/ijbas 19 SJIF IMPACT FACTOR (2015): 5.42 CRDEEP Journals International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences S. Manjunath et.al., Vol. 5 No. 2 ISSN: 2277-1921 entry of pond), II( Middle of the pond) and III (Near outlet). The identification of aquatic plants was done with the help of standard books and monographs like, Singh and Karthikeyan (2001), Biswas and Calder (1984). The physico-chemical parameters were estimated by referring the standard procedures of APHA (1998), Trivedi and Goel (1984) and Trivedi et al.(1998).
Results and Discussion The physico-chemical parameters of water samples of Gudavi pond presented in Table 1 and Table 2 depicted diversity of Aquatic macrophytes.
The water temperature of the tank varied from a minimum of 25.5oC to a maximum of 29oC. pH of the water was slightly alkaline and the CO2 level of water fluctuated from 44 to 58.5 mg/L respectively. Calcium content varied from 23.4 to 28.9 mg/L.
However, the phosphate content deviated from 1.26- 2.80 mg/L respectively. Dissolved oxygen level was maximum with 5.2 mg/L and minimum with 3.8mg/L. BOD level fluctuated 9.9 to 26.2 mg/L . Hence, pond is productive.
The increase in free CO2, BOD, chloride and phosphate; whereas decrease in concentration of DO indicate increased with discharge of excreta from birds from surrounding areas in the water body (Kshirsagar and Gunale, 2011; Kshirsagar et al., 2012).
Table 1. Range of Physico-chemical characteristics of water of Gudavi wetland. Sl.No. Parameters Range 1. Water temperature (o C) 25.5-29 2. pH 7.2-7.5 3. CO2 , mg/L 44 - 58.5 4. Calcium , mg/L 23.4 -28.9 5. Dissolved Oxygen (DO), mg/L 3.8-5.2 6. Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD), mg/L 9.9-26.2 7. Chloride, mg/L 57.4-62.8 8. Phosphate, mg/L 1.26 -2.8
Table 2. Diversity of Aquatic macrophytes in Gudavi pond Sl.No. Scientific name Family Site I SiteII Site III 1 Najas indica Hydrocharitaceae + _ + 2 Pistia stratiotes Araceae + + + 3 Asterocantha longifolia Acanthaceae + + + 4 Caldesia arnesifolia. Alismataceae + + -
5 Salvinia sp. Salviniaceae + - + 6 Azolla pinnata Salviniaceae + - + 7 Nymphaea nouchalii Nymphaeaceae + - + 8 Nymphoides interrupta Menyanthaceae - + + 9 Nymphoides cristata Menyanthaceae + + - 10 Crinum asiatica Amaryllidaceae - + - 11 Polygonum plebejum Polygonaceae - + + 12 Cryptocoryne spiredis Araceae + + + 13 Limnophila gratiorodes Plantaginaceae + + - 14 Aponogeton echinatus Aponogetonaceae - + + 15 Marselia quadripartite Marsileaceae + + + 16 Lemna major Araceae + + +
Among Aquatic plants 16 species belonging to 12 families and 15 genera were recorded from Gudavi pond (Table-2). Figure 1 shows the number of aquatic macrophytes in each family. Species spectrum of macrophytes includes- Caldesia arnesifolia. Pistia stratiotes. Najas indica, Nymphoides interrupta, Nymphoides cristata, Aponogeton echinatus, Marselia quadripartite, Salvia species, Azolla pinnata, Lemna species, Asterocantha longifolia, Limnophila gratiorodes, Nymphaea nouchalii, Chyptocoryne spiredis, Polygonum plebejum and Crinum asiatica.
Species among plant, indicative of organic enrichment are Pistia stratiotes, Lemna major and Azolla pinnata. The dominance of free floating macrophytes throughout the study , which is considered to be indicators of organic pollution.
Online version available at: www.crdeep.com/ijbas 20 SJIF IMPACT FACTOR (2015): 5.42 CRDEEP Journals International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences S. Manjunath et.al., Vol. 5 No. 2 ISSN: 2277-1921 The physico-chemical parameters of water are important factors affect the distribution and abundance of aquatic plants (Table 1). A few macrophytes are indicator of the availability of particular nutrients. The pollution indicator species such as Pistia statiotes also recorded which indicate eutrophication. The main source of pollution due to runoff water from agriculture fields in the rainy season carrying inorganic fertilizers, toxic pesticides and other chemicals enter in to this pond. Narayana and Somashekar (2002) and Thangadurai et al (2012) have been concluded that the physico-chemical characters influence the growth of species, distribution, indicator group and pollution tolerant species.
Gudavi pond provide habitat for pollution indicator species like Pistia statiotes and the water body is included under eutrophic category. Rorslet (1991) and Murphy (2001) found that the maximum macrophytes diversity was observed in mesotrophic to slightly eutrophic lakes. Therefore, similar trend was observed in the present water body.
Among 16 aquatic macrophytes, 4 species were found to occur in all the three sites of the pond. Some aquatic plants are suppressed by the dominant weed or not getting suitable environmental condition for their growth. The pond provides sufficient water for agriculture and fish culture. So the water body should be conserved.
Fig 1: Number of Aquatic macrophytes in each family
Photo 1: Photography showing on spot analysis. Photo 2: Photography showing Gudavi wetland.
Conclusion The selected Gudavi pond has water throughout the year and has fair species richness in plants. The plants like Pistia are major species in the water body. A pond may consist not only the plants but is maintaining a well balanced ecosystem also. More than that they are the good water storage areas, provide sufficient water for agricultural and irrigation purposes and also increases the ground water level. So the ponds and aquatic macrophytes should be conserved.
References APHA. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. American Public Health Association, 1998. New York. Ayodhya D. Kshirsagar and Venkat R Gunale, 2013. Diversity of aquatic macrophytes from River Mula Pune City, MS, India. Sci. Res. Rept, 3(1):09-14. Biswas K and Calder LC, 1984. Handbook of common water and marsh plants of India and Burma, p.216.
Online version available at: www.crdeep.com/ijbas 21 SJIF IMPACT FACTOR (2015): 5.42 CRDEEP Journals International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences S. Manjunath et.al., Vol. 5 No. 2 ISSN: 2277-1921 Chung IH and Jeng SS, 1974. Heavy metal pillution of Ta-Tu River. Bulletin of the Institute of Zoology, Academy of Science, 13: 69- 73. http://aranya.gov.in/downloads/GudviWLS_MgmtPlan.pdf Kshirsagar AD and Gunale VR, 2011. Pollution status of river Mula (Pune city) Maharashtra, India. Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health,11:81-90. Kshirsagar AD Ahire ML and Gunale VR, 2012. Phytoplankton Diversity Related to Pollution from Mula River at Pune City. Terrestrial and Aquatic environmental Toxicology, 6(2):136-142. Murphy KJ (2002). Plant communities and plant diversity in soft waters lakes of Northern Europe. Aquatic Botany, 73: 287-324. Narayana J, RK Somashekar (2002). Macrophytic diversity in relation to water quality. Investigation on River Cauvery. In: Ecology and conservation of lakes, reservoirs and rivers. ABD Publishers, Jaipur, India. Raunkaier C, 1934 . The life-form of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford. Claredon Press. Singh NP and Karthikegan S, 2001. Flora of Maharashtra-II. Dicotyledones. Botanical Survey of India. Rorslet B (1991). Principal determinants of aquatic macrophytes richness in northern European lakes. Aquatic Botany, 39: 173-193. Solak CN Barinova S Acs E and Dayioglu H, 2012. Diversity and ecology of diatoms from Felent creek (Sakarya river basin), Turkey. Turkish Journal of Botany, 36: 191-203. Stromberg JC, 1993. In stream flow models for mixed deciduous riparian vegetation within a semiarid region. Regulated rivers: Research and Management, 8:225-235. Thangadurai R, T. Ravi Mycin M. Lenin and T. Devasena. 2012. Aquatic macrophytes in Veeranam tank, Cuddalore District (India) . INT J CURR SCI 2012, 3: 67-71 Trivedi, R. K., Goel, P. K. & Trishal, C.L.1998. Practical methods in Ecology and Environmental Science. Enviro Media Publications, Karad, India. Trivedy, R.K. & Goel, P.K. 1984.Chemical and biological methods for water pollution studies. Environmental Publishers, Karad, India .p. 340.
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